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T. A. DAVIS.

TRAIN ORDER HOLDER.

APPLICATION men |AN.22. 19:9,

1,35,94h PatfintedJune 10, 1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

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A TTOR/VEYS WI TNESSES T. A. DAVIS.

TRAIN ORDER HOLDER.

APPLICATION FlLED 1AN.22. m9.

Patented J une 10, 1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

INVENTOR WI T/VE SSE 8 A TTUR/VEVS V FFIQ.

THOMAS ALLEN'DAVIS, 0F MEDORA, NORTH DAKOTA.

TRAIN-ORDER HOFLDER.

Specification of Letters Batent. Patented June 10, 1919.

Application filed January 22,1919. Serial N 0. 272,466.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS A. DAVIS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Medora, in the county of Billings and State of North Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Train- Order Holders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in train order holders, and has for its object to pro- Vide a device of the character specified for holding the hoops by means of which train orders and the like are delivered to moving trains, in such manner that the hoops may be easily caught by a trainman, either in the cab of the locomotive or in the caboose, without danger to the employees, and wherein the necessity of any one to hold the hoop on the platform is dispensed with.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a front view of the improved holder and its support;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the holder, with parts in section;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the blocks;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the aws;.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of the support showing the mounting for the holder.

In the present embodiment of the invention an arm 1 is provided, which is pivoted to a semaphore post 2, by means of a cross head 3 on one end of the arm, which is journaled in bearings 4 on the semaphore post. This arm carries at its opposite end a cross head 5, which extends vertically with respect to the arm, as does also the cross head 3, and it will be noted that the cross head 5 is'spaced apart from the adjacent end of the arm.

Blocks 6 of suitable material, as, for instance, hard wood, are connected to the cross head above and below the arm, by means of clips 7, a clip being arranged near each end of each block. A holder is connected with each block for the hoops 8 of ordinary construction, the said hoops being already in use, and each having a radial arm 9 by means of which it may be conveniently handled.

In use, the operator or other employee stands upon the platform with a hoop, holding the hoop by the handle, the hoop carrying the message, as, for'instance, a train order, to be delivered. The trainman, as, for instance, the engineer or conductor, runs his arm through the hoop as it is held by the operator, and there is always more or less danger of injury to the operator or other employee who holds the hoop. In delivering orders in this manner the operator must stand close to the train, a post of considerable danger, especially with freight trains, which may have pieces of boards or lumber projecting from the cars, and the suction of the train has a tendency to swing the hoop, to cause the trainman to miss rumiing the arm through the hoop. With the present invention, the hoops are held by the holders above mentioned, which engage the handles 9. Each of these holders consists of a pair of jaws 10 and 11 each jaw 11 being pivoted in a mortise in the adjacent block, near the end of the block remote from the arm 1, and the jaw 10 also engages within the mortise which holds the jaw 11.

The jaw 10 is rigidly secured to the block, while the jaw 11 is pivoted to the block, in order that it may swing away from the jaw 10 into the dotted line position of Fig. 1. These jaws are recessed longitudinally on their abutting faces, as shown, to receive the handle 9 of the hoop, the movable jaw be ing normally spring pressed toward the fixed jaw by means of a coil spring 12 which is connected at one end to the arm 1 and at the other to a stirrup 13 which embraces the adjacent pair of jaws and is connected to the movable jaw, the fixed jaw passing through the stirrup.

In the present embodiment of the invention two holders are shown for holding the hoops, one in position to be engaged by the arm of a trainman on the engine and the other for engagement by the arm of a trainman on the caboose. It is obvious that one holder might be used or that by extending the cross head 5 other holders might be added. The cross head 3 and each block 6 is prevented from downward movement by means of angle brackets 14. These angle brackets are secured to the cross head or to the post 2, as the case may be.

In operation, to insert the hoop it is only necessary to move the jaw slightly away from the fixed jaw, after which the handle may be inserted, or if the recesses for the handle are beveled or flared "at their outer trainman will have no trouble thrustinghis arm through the hoop.

The jaws will release the handle as soon as pressure is brought tobear uponthe hoop.

I claim:

1, ,Adevice of the character specified comprising a hinged support mounted to swing in a substantially horizontal plane into and out of'operative position, said arm carrying a substantially vertical cross head near its outer end, a pair of jaws connected with each end of the cross head, the innermost members of the pairs beingfixed, and the outermost members being hinged to swing toward and from the fixed members, fastirrup connected the outer. member of Copies of this patent maybe obtained for each pair and through which the in ner mem ber passes, and a spring connecting each stirrlip to the arm. j

2. device of the character specified comprising a cross head, a pair of jaws connected with each end of the cross head, the

innermost members of the pairsbeing fixed and the outermost members being hinged to swing toward and" from the fixed members, and a yielding connection between the outerm'ost members for drawing them toward the innermost members, said connection com prising a stirrup connected with the outer member of each pair and encirclingthe inner member, and a spring connecting thev stirrups. v

' THOMAS ALLEN DAVIS;

Witnesses: a i 1 I M. V. FALLIS, G. E. BURGESS..

five ce'nts each, by addressing the Commissioner otratents,

Washington, I). O. 

